Vehicular closure latch assembly having double pawl latch mechanism

A vehicle door latch assembly, comprising:

• a ratchet moveable between a striker release position whereat the ratchet is positioned to receive a striker and primary and secondary striker capture positions whereat the ratchet is positioned to retain the striker, the ratchet being biased toward the striker release position;
• a ratchet lever coupled for movement with the ratchet and having a ratchet lever activation segment;
• a primary pawl moveable between an engaged position whereat the primary pawl is positioned to hold the ratchet in one of its primary and secondary striker capture positions and a disengaged position whereat the primary pawl permits movement of the ratchet to its striker release position, the primary pawl being biased toward the engaged position;
• a secondary pawl moveable between an engaged position whereat the secondary pawl is positioned to hold the primary pawl in the engaged position and a disengaged position whereat the secondary pawl permits movement of the primary pawl to the disengaged position, the secondary pawl being biased toward the engaged position;
• and
• a snow-load lever moveable between a disengaged position whereat the snow-load lever permits movement of the secondary pawl between the engaged and disengaged positions and an engaged position whereat the snow-load lever is positioned to hold the secondary pawl in the disengaged position, the snow-load lever being biased toward the engaged position,
• wherein the ratchet lever activation segment of the ratchet lever engages and holds the snow-load lever in the disengaged position when the ratchet is located in the primary striker capture position, wherein movement of the ratchet in a releasing direction from the primary striker capture position causes the ratchet lever activation segment to disengage the snow-load lever and permit the snow-load lever to move from the disengaged position into the engaged position, wherein movement of the ratchet in a closing direction from the secondary strike capture position into the primary striker capture position causes the ratchet lever activation segment to engage the snow-load lever and cause the snow-load lever to move from the engaged position into the disengaged position, wherein an eccentric directional force vector is established between the ratchet and the primary pawl when the primary pawl is located in the engaged position and the ratchet is located in its primary striker capture position and wherein a concentric directional force vector is established between the ratchet and the primary pawl when the primary pawl is located in the engaged position and the secondary pawl is in the disengaged position and the ratchet is located in the secondary striker capture position.